Spool and bobbin holder



March 25, 1969 E. D. LAUGHLIN ET AL 3,434,590

7 SPOOL AND BOBBIN HOLDER Filed Feb. 15, 1967 Evan D. Laugh/in E d/fh M.Laugh/in INVENTORS United States Patent 3,434,590 SPOOL AND BOBBINHOLDER Evan D. Laughlin and Edith M. Laughlin, both of 1112 SchweitzerRoad, McKeesport, Pa. 15135 Filed Feb. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 616,340 Int.Cl. B65d 79/00 US. Cl. 20647 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amultipurpose holder for user of sewing machine comprises: A spindle withaxial storing socket for inserta'ble needle and functioning primarily tostore (1) a spool of thread of one color and (2) a sewing machine bobbinwith thread of corresponding color and (3) an elastic strand or bandwith looped ends detachably connected to spindle and spanning andyieldingly retaining the spool and bobbin against accidentaldisplacement from spindle.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a simple,practical and highly desirable holder which is expressly andsatisfactorily constructed and designed to conveniently hold sewingaccessories; more particularly, a holder which lends itself to use whenthe user desires to store a spool of thread, a sewing machine bobbinwith corresponding thread thereon, and a readily applicable andremovable needle.

Persons conversant with the field of invention to which the hereindisclosed concept pertains are aware that holders for sewing accessorieswhich function to aid those who sew are old and well-known and primarilyrelate to spool holders one of which, quite unlike the presentinvention, is disclosed in a patent to Rawlings 1,976,037.

Another holder which pertains, but only in a broad manner, to theinvention herein disclosed is shown in a patent to Boye directed to aholder for balls and spools of strand material Patent 1,130,058. Thesepatents are mentioned only to reveal the general state of the art towhich the present invention relates.

Concerning the general problem, it is recognized that most women who sewhave many different colors and shades of thread on spools (of many andvarying sizes) and bobbins, also of different sizes, wound with threadof corresponding colors. Storage of companion spools and bobbins hasalways created a perplexing problem because the thread on the bobbinunwinds; the spool becomes separated from its matching bobbin, and theuser is confronted with difficulties too numerous to mention. It followsthat the object of the instant endeavor is to advance the art of holdersin the category under advisement and, in so doing, to provide anadaptation which can be appropriately endorsed by manufacturers andretailers and which, as is more important, will serve as a real aid toanyone who uses a sewing machine.

Summary The herein disclosed solution of the problem is of the utmost insimplicity and feasibility. It is characterized by an elongated straightspindle having a head at one end and having its other end rounded andblunt. This spindle is inflexible and long enough to accommodatevirtually all spools of thread of customary size. Experience has shownthat it can be made of any material which the manufacturer may choosesuch as metal, commercial plastics, wood, hardened rubber and so on. Thespindle is of a length and cross-section to accommodate at least onespool of thread and a complemental or companion sewing machine bobbinwith thread of a corresponding color.

A needle, if desired, can be stored in a socket provided therefor in thespindle. A rubber or an equivalent elastic strand or an equivalent bandhas looped ends which are connected with end portions of the spindle andthis band spans and provides yieldable pressure against the spool andbobbin respectively whereby to prevent accidental displacement of thesame.

It will be evident from the foregoing that spools and bobbins groupedtogether in the manner herein shown and described can be effectually,and neatly stored in a drawer, sewing box or container and areaccordingly accessible when needed for use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, Whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of theimproved holder with the needle, spool and bobbin omitted.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective based on FIG. 1 and showing how theholder comes into play to compactly and conveniently store the needle,spool and bobbin respectively.

And FIG. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal sec tional view takenthrough the assemblage shown in FIG. 2.

Description of the preferred embodiment The principal component hereindesignated as the spindle is denoted by the numeral 4 and is linearlystraight and of a predetermined length, for example the length suggestedin FIG. 2 which is suitable, as is evident, for storage of the spool ofthread 6 and sewing machine bobbin 8. It may be reiterated that thespindle is long enough to accommodate all common size spools of threadwhich also means that the cross-section is such as to pass through theusual bore or passage of the spool in the manner disclosed. The spindleis usually made of a colorful commercial plastic material but may alsobe made of wood, hard rubber, aluminum or such material as is settledupon by the manufacturer. The right hand end portion in the views of thedrawing is provided with head means 10 comprising integral enlargedcorrespondingly diametered flanges 12 and 14 which are spaced apart toprovide an anchoring groove. The opposite or left hand end is convexlyrounded and suitably blunt as at 16 to facilitate stringing the spool 6and bobbin 8 on the spindle. The spindle is also provided with an axialsocket which is closed at one end as at 18 in FIG. 3 and open at theopposite right hand end 20 to accommodate the shank 22 of an insertableand removable needle 24. The eye 26 of the needle is left exposed at theheaded end for accessibility and also, if desired, to pass a free endportion 28 of the thread 30 therethrough. To conveniently assemble andstore the spool 6 and bobbin 8 on the spindle simple and feasible meansis employed and preferably takes the form of a length of elasticmaterial which is designated as a retainer 34. This retainer has one endportion 36 provided with a loop 38 which is fitted in the groove betweenthe headforming flanges 12 and 14. A similar loop 40 is provided at theopposite end and is slip-fitted and retained over the left hand endportion of the spindle in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It iswithin the purview of the concept and desirable to provide the medianportion of the elastic retainer element 34 with a permanently attachedsleeve 42 of foam rubber or the like which lends itself to the manner ofuse illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, it will be seen that saidsleeve, being compressibly resilient, adapts itself to both the spooland bobbin and, in so doing, assists in preventing unwinding of thethread and undesirable displacement of the spool or bobbin.

In practice the spindle permits the spool and bobbin to be slipped onone end and, if desired, to come to rest against the head means at theother end or to simply retain the approximate stored position andrelationship shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the spool 6 and bobbin 8 arein place the sleeve-equipped elastic retaining element (band or thelike) comes into play and is applied and stretched so that the tensionresulting presses the surfaces of the sleeve against the thread on thespool and bobbin to achieve the conveniently stored end result desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows 1. In combination, a spool ofthread, a companion thread filled sewing machine bobbin, the thread onsaid spool and bobbin, respectively, corresponding in character andcolor for coordinate use in a customary manner, a spindle passingthrough the aligned bores in said spool and bobbin respectively with endportions projecting beyond corresponding ends of the spool and bobbin 9whereby to thus removably string and store the spool and bobbin on saidspindle, and elastic guard means having terminal end portions attachedto corresponding end portions of said spindle and having its main bodyportion stretched across and contacting the spool and bobbin in a mannerto temporarily store and prevent unintended displacement of the samefrom said spindle.

2. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein said spindle isprovided at one end with head means, the other end being convexlyrounded and blunt to facilitate piloting the same through the bores ofthe spool and bobbin, said guard means having a loop at one enddetachably connectible with said head means, and having a loop at theother end slidingly and detachably connected with the correspondingblunt end of said spindle.

3. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein said spindle isprovided at one end with head means, the

other end being convexly rounded and blunt to facilitate piloting thesame through the bores of the spool and bobbin, said guard means havinga loop at one end detacha bly connectible with said head means, andhaving a loop at the other end slidingly and detachably connected withthe corresponding blunt end of said spindle, and a compressiblyresilient sleeve on that portion of the guard means between therespective loops and adapted to conformingly contact thread which iswound on the spool and bobbin respectively in a manner to assist inpreventing undesirable unwinding of the thread as well as accidentaldisplacement of either the spool or the bobbin.

4. The combination defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein saidspindle is straight, is of a predetermined length and a predeterminedcross-section, said spindle having spaced parallel integrated flanges atone end providing head means having an encircling groove, the other endof said spindle being convexly rounded.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 4 and wherein saidguard means comprises an elastic band having attaching loops at itsrespective ends and is provided intermediate the loops with acompressibly resilient pressure-responsive sleeve.

6. The combination defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein saidspindle is provided with an elongated axial socket closed at one end andopening at its opposite end through the flange-equipped end of saidspindle, said socket being adapted to store an insertable and removablesewing needle with the eye of the needle accessibly exposed in aposition adjacent but slightly beyond said head means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer.

JOHN M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.

